Web letoff mechanism



July 27, 1948. B. PLUNKETT ET Al. 2,446,104

WEB I.|F.'.TO`El*"l MECHANISM Filed OOC. 22, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENT-olzs. ABRIAN PLUNKl-:T1`

GEORGE FAMA.

, ATTORNEYS July 27, 1948. B. PLUNKETT ET AL WEB LET-OFF MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1946 INVENTORS BRIAN PLQNKETT,

` 'Y csf-:ORGE FAMA. M9/Maan( ATTORNEYS.

WEB LET- OFF MECHANI SM Filed oct. 22, 1946 Y 4 4 Sheets-sheet s l INVENToRs. BRIAN FLUNKETT.

GEORGE FAMA;

y fm

ATTORNEYS July 27, 1948. y B. PLUNKETT' ET AL 2,446,104 f WEB LET-OFF MECHANISM Filed oct.v 22, 1946 l 4 sheets-sheet 4 [nr-l 55 2: 64' Il @Il A @s :E Il l 45 l es ss S4 57 6 INVENTORS4 BRIAN PLUNKETT.

B GEORGE FAMA. /vflw ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 27, 21948 'WEBIL'TOFF MECHAISM @Benni-inmunitariofoeorgetmma, iouiteland, MdL; :assignors `tito Gelanese Corporation* of 'fAmerica,.a:conpo1-,ation ofgDelaware l Aptii'catm oettbefzz, 1946,*sei`1lNa: 7044820 vvalienante. (o1. afs-s6) `51 This invention relates 4to web 1et-off mechanisms, and relates moreioaitic-iilalrlyto l'continuous drive positivevwarp letho'ff' methanisms for use in oonjunctiontwith Jtwarpk-riittingfinaehines.

employed ffor positively iiwindingiany Web, such as fabric, paper and the keQf'iromiarollatfeonL 'stant'1s1pee`d, it i? is f `narticuflarly Ieiect-ive ffor f the positive -unwinding fatl 'ai constant speed fof ai-#warp lknitting :elements f ther: warpzkittingti'na'chine,

operation. f: Consequently, z the yam @is `ikni-tted with' aluminium? of fvariation nftthegtensiow required i or-theproperknittin g :dif-the` iabricibeing manufactured. j

vitt-is an ol'njectf'o` this inventionlftopprovide tan improved filet-.-v 01T i mechanism @for Warp knitting machines vvWhichfwill'woontinuousiy-leti ofi :thetwarp from the'beam@ 'orffbeams' .withoutl :causingz-any Suddeny fpuils 1 or" strainstonlftheyarnf'or :knitting elementsfand-,Withoutithetusei-offtension rods.

@then i objectsof'` this-invention, ,together with certain'details'rof oonstructionzand combinations of,r-parta-Will` appear from-the kfollowingidetzaiied description. t t t t t v tThe warp :let-off rinechanism.accordingffto:fthe instant invention comprisesfa unit; consisting rof two,-substantiallywsimilarfmotionspwhich is read` ily? attachable; tdi the:` frameworkfrofuaflwarp'i` knit-` tingil'machine. :The lett-dif mechanismiiiszdriven from 'theeamshjftrflthe Warpknittifngfmaehine and, throughfrriction-*geamiigiariu reducinef'gearutifo ingfs ini-driving connection-withthe `izvleamshcif `thewarntknitting machine. Thus, thefiet-fofhand knittingrates'arefoorrelated.`

The friction gearingcomprises afdriver lment adapted to lbe i constantly j rotated by -a -"friction merrrber;A 'or lmemjbers, drivenl Vfrom "the cam s-haft and movable towradialA "distancesi with respectito the Ydriver"imeinher." `l`Si-iita'ble gearing'iconects the 'fvvarp" beam shaft and` `fiction-gearing, which not only drives 'the *Warp l beam f-"shaft"^" but lalso `effects fa "el'rangei'n'` the?radiabdistancel in which 4the -d'r-iv'ingfmemberporv men-bers; Icontactswith the driver member: f-Jlinifthis ivvayj'the11R, LP. #of fthe wvarp beam is eontrolledt to "maintain constant thel liiiea1Iff-eefdfoyarnL to the {knittinglements-as tithe* dianmter1ofj the yarnwound onf the warnbeamidecreases.

'l1 The "'-positiveflet-off J mechanismvof H this .invent tion enables'tft 'exswarp :knittingmachine; to r`Weave fabric of'I highflqualitx/,ffgiving 'thesame accurate stitch andi giving-ain `exact yarn 'consumption per rack, twith "fthei'eliniination of Waste on both warpsusuohfas has notzheretooret :been attained. 'Visbilitywof -st0p marks' isgreatly reduced.

"The let-oif rmechanism `ofithisvinvention as ap- .plied to iafwarpfknitting-machine `vvillxnow be .describedEinwgreateriidtailtwithl reference' to the accompanying drawings in which,

.fFigulrez lcfisa front'ielevationaiview rof` :the :let-- `oi mechanismishowingthe sameon asupportliby iwhichfiit iis: :mounted on the frameworkv of 1 `the warpj; hitting m'achinegrcertain portions ofi the loweri'fm'otiohsbeinglrbroken avv-ay` or "omittedxin the. interest oficlarity, t i

lf'ligiurefzisfaasidei elevational view of the vlet-'off mechanism' showing?thefsame` mountedfr on vthe 'framework 'off t ariwarpfknitting machineand` operatively attached taithefwarpbeams thereof,

f :Figui-'e323 isriavtopfpl'aniview roffone motion :of .the

:Like freferencernumerals giudicate mikel f parts throughout"'thei-several l views fjofntheidrawings.

Referringt-tovEigures lwandaZ, two let-oirrmotions,A 5, andas, one iforl eachfot-thewarpebeamsfof the warp knittingvmaohine arefcarriedort-brackets ;1\,,and,-.8, respectively, i-which are 'xed i to a. supportv amounted?, :on` they -framework l I i tofs the wal-piknitting -machine-fbwany suitable: means includingitefirodssiZcand'ncrosssbars4 i3. 'Iheviet-` ff lmotions:farehoperatedwfrom4 :cam :shaft `I4 throughia :sprock'etf'li'ixed :thereto whicl'rfdrives "a: sprocket? 1I byrreansnfof-f abhaiin f 'l 1.' f Sprocket .4-6; isi'xdi'-to landt rotates `ion 1 coilhteat'shaftffv 18 dn which is mounted a spiral gear I9 cooperating with a spiral gear 2| mounted on and rotating on counter-shaft 22. Counter-shaft 22 is journaled in suitable bearings in adjustable shaft supports 23 mounted on a bracket 24 fixed by means of screw bolts 25 to the framework of the warp knitting machine.

Counter-shaft 22 has fixed thereon-for rotation therewith a sprocket 26 which by means of chain 21 rotates sprocket 28 which is fixed to and is adapted to drive shaft 29 of the lower let-off motion 6. The sprocket 28 also drives stub shaft 3| to which is attached a. sprocket 32 driving through chain 33, sprocketv 34 whichy is attached to and adapted to drive shaft 35. o

Since remaining elements of the top let-off moi rplates 42, the guiding wheels being adapted to rotate disc 43 of steel or other suitable materiai. While two friction wheels are shown, it is to be kunderstood that the disc 43 may be driven by a single driving wheel. The driving wheels 4| are rotatably carried in shift brackets 44 which are movable laterally by means hereinbefore set forth. In Figure 1, the driving wheels are shown in their extreme outer position on disc 43.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, disc 43 is mounted on a shaft 45, a compression spring 46 being posi tioned between the hub 41 of disc 43 and collar 48 on shaft 45 for maintaining the `disc 43 in contact with driving wheels 4|. Shaft 45, which is the input shaft, extends through a gear housing 49 which is attached by means' of-bracket 5| and screw bolts 52 to support 9.' A worm 53 is mounted onV shaft 45 within housing 49 and meshes Vwith a worm gear 54 fixed, as by means of a collar 55 to a shaft 56. A portion of shaft 56 extends through housing 49 and has affixed thereto a spur gear 51 and meshes with and oper.- ates aspur gear 58. Spur gear 5B is rotatably mounted on a bracket,v 59 being held thereon by Ia nut 6|. The bracket 59 is provided with a slot 62 by which it is mounted on a threaded stud 63, the arrangement being such that the bracket is capable of vertical and angular adjustment. `A washer 64 and a nut 65 are provided tohold the bracket in adjusted position.y Spur `gear 53 meshes with and is adapted to rotate a' spur gear 66 xed to a suitable journaled shaft 61.

Y The shaft 61 extends within housing 49 and has mounted thereon, within said housing a worm 68 which meshes with and is adapted to rotate a worm gear 69 fixed to a suitably journaled shaft 1|. The shaft 1| passes through housing 49 and drives warp beam shaft 12 to which it is directly coupled as will be seen from Figures 2 andy 3. The warp beam shaft 13 -is driven in a similar manner by the lower let-off motion 6. i

The shaft 1| also has fixed thereto aspur gear 14 which meshes with and is adapted to rotate a spur gear carried by a suitably vjournaled shaft 16. A worm 11 is mounted on the shaft 16, which worm cooperates with and isadapted to rotate worm gear 18 integral with a hub 19 mounted on a suitably journaledshaft 8| which extends through housing 49 and carries through to rotate spur gear 9| fixed to spur shaft 92 on which isalso fixed a sprocket 93. A chain 94 connects `sprocket 93 with a sprocket 95 fixed to a -reversely threaded shaft 96 and is adapted to rotate said shaft. Shift brackets 44 which carries driving whee1s'4| are mounted on the threaded shaft 96, which is journaled in brackets 38 and 39 and also in standard 191, and as the threaded rsh'aft "is .rotated the shift brackets are caused to move radially with respect to the center of disc Means are provided for operatively disconnecting the threaded shaft 96from sprocket 95 and for manually rotating the threaded shaft@ This means comprises a clutch, generally indicated by reference numeral 98,- provided with a manual release 99anid a handle |0|.

In operation,the warp beam is driven through driving wheels 4|, operated from the cam-shaft i4, anddisc 43, and, as there is no power-required except that necessary to overcome what little friction there may be in the gear, there is no slippage between the driving wheels 4| and disc 43, notwithstanding the small area of the friction driving surfaceof driving wheels 4|. Moreover, the gear ratio between disc 43 and the warp beam is very great.

After the warp beams are in position, the driving wheels are vset onl disc 43 at a distance from the center of the latter corresponding exactly to the radius of the yarn windings on the warp beam, this beingy effected manually by means of clutch 98 and handle IUI. The gear is so ar-` ranged that a vpredetermined amount ofyarn is let olf the warpl beam and fed through the machine. As the diameter of the yarn windings on the warp beam decreases-the speed of the disc is `increased because'to maintain constant lineal.

yarnl feed the R. P. M. of the warp feed must be increased. By increasing the speed of the disc' 43, the rotation ofthe threaded shaft 96 is increased, thus moving the driving wheel'4l at an increased rate towards the center of disc 43 which accelerates through the gear above described the speed at which the warp beam is driven. By way of examplawhere there are 5,000 turns of yarn on thewarp beam, the outside diameter of the warp beam is i1/2V inches and the diameter of the barrel of the warp beam is 2 inches, then a radial distance of 21/2 inches must be traversed by each driving wheel onvthe disc in 5,000l turnsv of the shaft 1| connected to the warp beam 12.

The pitch of the thread on `shaft 96 does not have to be changed should different deniers of yarn cause the thickness of the warp beam to vary for the same number of turns. Change in yarn deniers are compensated for by changing the size of gear 51, Where it is desired or it is necessary to change the run--in or'lineal amount of yarn 'to be fedffor a given number of cam-shaft revolutions, it is effected by'changing the'size of gear 82. Changing the size of gear 82 changes the in'- stantaneous R. P. M. of the warp beam without changingthe rate at which the R. ;P. M. increases asV the warpgdiameter decreases.

ing for rotatingA saidfbeampsa-idg friction gea-ring'- comprisingea driver member adaptedto be con-w stantly rotated and: a driving-member for` frie-- tionally rotating said driver member;` and; .meansY operated by said firstmentionedrmeansfor movyl` ing-saidrdrivingmember to variable radial distances wierp-respectetoijsaid driver member so as to cause the speed of rotation of said beam to vary.

2. A let-off" motiorrforf positively rotating a beam, comprising means including friction gearn ing" for rotating"said` beam, said' friction gearing comprising a driver member adapted to' be con`v stantly rotatedand' a'driviri'g member for frictionally rotating said drivermember, meanaopfl means for autoeratedfby said first-mentioned n mateany moving sard'urrving member tqyariabie rauiaiaistantes respect to said driver, mem.

ber so' astri 'cause' the speed y'o'ffrcftatio o 'ffsai'd beam 'to vary, and manuallyopr'ated mean-s for also moving said driving member to variable radial distances with respect to said driver member.

3. A let-off motion for positively rotating a beam, comprising means including friction gearing for rotating said beam, said friction gearing comprising a disc adapted to be constantly rotated and a driving wheel for frictionally rotating said disc, and means operated by said rst-mentioned means for moving said driving Wheel to variable radial distances with respect to said disc f so as to cause the speed of rotation of said beam to vary.

4. A let-01T motion for positively rotating a beam, comprising means for rotating said beam, said means comprising a driver member adapted to be constantly rotated, a driving member for frictionally rotating said driver member, reducing gearing operated by said driver member, and a shaft rotatable by said reducing gearing and connected to said beam, and means operatively connected to said shaft for moving said driving member to variable radial distances with respect to said driver member so as to cause the speed of rotation of said beam to vary.

5. A let-off motion for positively rotating a beam, comprising means for rotating said beam, said means comprising a disc adapted to be constantly rotated, a driving wheel frictionally rotating said disc, reducing gearing operated by said disc, and a shaft rotatable by said reducing gearing and connected to said beam, and means operatively connected to said shaft for moving said driving wheel to variable radial distances with respect to said disc so as to cause the speed of rotation of said beam to vary.

6. In a warp knitting machine wherein two beams are employed for supplying Warps of yarn, a let-off motion operatively attached to each' of said beams, each of said let-off motions comprising friction gearing including a driver member adapted to be constantly rotated, a driving member for fractionally rotating said driver member, reducing gearing operated by said driver member, a shaft rotatable by said reducing gearing and connected to a beam, and means operatively connected to said shaft for moving said driving memben tor variable'y radial distances witlr respectto* said driver member` so as to cause thef speed. of rotation or the beam'to: vary,.'and*means; comA nected tofjthe camshaft of tlieivvarp` knittingmaa chine for l simultaneouslyy opera-ting* said letfoti` motions.. U

l 7.. In a. Warpv knitting" machine whereiniltwof beamsnaireemployed: for supplying war'pf'si of yar aletfoff motion operativelyattachedtto eachf. said beams; eachr of saidalet-off` motions comprise ingf friction gearing including a-' driver member adapted. tobe constantly rotated, a-drivingsmenti-yA` ber for` frictionally-rctating saidi driven mem-ber; reducing gearing operatedby said driver memb'exn, ashaftrotatable by said reduci-ng, gearingandfl connected toa beam-and m'eansicpe'ratively con nected to said shaft for: moving said: drivingcfnienre: ber( tc.-var1"able.V radial; distances with respect to said` driver membeifso= as to 'causerthe'y speerliot`v` rotation of the beam.r to'vary,` andi means; com nested` to the. cam-shaft of; Ithefwarp-knitting' maar chine` for simultaneously operating; saidrlet-ctf motions, the construction and arrangement lbeingt such that each; of the driving `members:revolvesi oncefor eachrevolutionof'said-'cam-shafti .V1In `a `warp knitting machine wherein-WW@ beams are. employed for, sunplyingwarpsqof yarns elevafff'lmotich 1 operatively attachent@ said beams, each of said let-off motions comprising friction gearing including a disc adapted to be constantly rotated, two driving wheels for frictionally rotating said disc, reducing gearing operated by said disc, a shaft rotatable by said reducing gearing and connected to a beam, and

r means operatively connected to said shaft for moving said driving wheels relative to each other and to variable radial distances with respect to the disc so as to cause the speed of rotation of the beam to vary, and means connected to the cam-shaft of the warp knitting machine for simultaneously operating said let-off motions, the -construction and arrangement being such that each of the driving wheels revolves once for each revolution of said cam-shaft.

9. In a Warp knitting machine wherein two beams are employed for supplying warps of yarn, a let-01T motion operatively attached to each of said beams, each of said let-off motions comprising friction gearing including a disc adapted to be constantly rotated, two driving wheels for frictionally rotating said disc, brackets for rotatably holding said driving wheels, a threaded shaft on which said brackets are mounted for longitudinal movement relative thereto, reducing gearing operated by said disc, a shaft rotatable by said reducing gearing and connected to said beam and means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating said threaded shaft so as to cause said driving wheels to move relative to each other and to variable distances with respect to the disc whereby the speed of rotation of the beam is caused to vary, and means connected to th'e camshaft of the warp knitting machine for simultaneously operating said let-off motions, the construction and arrangement being such that each of the driving wheels revolves once for each revolution of said cam-shaft.

10. In a warp knitting machine wherein two beams are employed for supplying warps of yarn, a let-oil motion operatively attached to each of said beams, each of said let-01T motions comprising friction gearing including a disc adapted to be constantly rotated, two driving wh'eels for frictionally rotating said disc, brackets for rotatably `holding said driving wheels, a threaded shaft on movementI relative thereto, reducing gearing operated by lsaid disc, a shaft rotatable by said re'-4 ducing gearing and connected to said beam, means operatively connected to said-shaft for ro'- tating said threaded shaft so as to cause fsaid driving wheels to move relative to each other and to variable distances with respect to the disc whereby the speed of rotation of the beam `is caused'to vary, and means for manually rotating saidthreaded shaft to move said `driving wheels relative to each other, and means connected to the cam-shaft of the warp knitting machine for simultaneously operating said let-off motions, the construction and arrangement being such that each of the driving wheels revolves once for each revolution of `said cam-shaft.

11.4 In a warp knitting machine wherein two beams are employed for supplying warps of yarn, a vlet-off motion operatively attached to each of said beams, each of said let-0E motions comprising friction gearing including' a disc adapted to be constantly'rotated, two driving wheels for frictionally rotating saidl disc, brackets for rotatably holding said driving Wheels, a threadedshaft on which'said' brackets are mounted for longitudinal movement relative thereto, reducing gearing operated by said disc, a shaft rotatable by said reducing gearing and connected to saidfbeam, niieahs,v

operatively connected to said shaft forrotatim;l said threaded sl'i'aft so as to cause said driving wheels te move relative to each other and to variable distances with respect to the disc-whereby the speed-of rotation of the beam is caused to vary, and means including a clutch mounted on said threaded shaft for moving said driving Wheels relative' to each other, and means connected to the cam-shaft of the warp knitting machine for simultaneously operating said let-off motions,4the construction and arrangement being such that each of the drivingwheels revolves once for each revolution of said cam-shaft.

' BRIAN PLUNKE'I'I.

GEORGE FAMA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

i UNITED STATES PATENTS Ami-don Q.-- May 21, 1046 

